The announcement will not go down well with Parisians or tourists but angry taxi drivers in France are clearly not willing to lie down without a fight. On Tuesday they called for an "indefinite strike", saying they will take action "anytime, anywhere".

Paris taxi drivers continued to vent their anger on Tuesday when they brought traffic to a standstill in the centre of the French capital leading to the arrest of dozens of drivers. The trouble comes as unions called for ongoing industrial action.

On Tuesday evening as cabbies fronted up to police at Place de La Concorde union leaders called for an indefinite strike, which could see wildcat blockades and go slows continue for the foreseeable future.

In a joint statement drivers’ unions said they "reserved the right to take action at any place at any time.”

Strike action was already under way early Wednesday, with some 70 taxis blocking pick-up spots at Orly airport south of Paris and a convoy slowing traffic from Charles de Gaulle airport north of the capital.

The cabbies are angry over what they see as a rise in unfair competition from private hire cabs, known as VTCs and a lack of protection from the government.

Taxi drivers say VTCs are increasingly flouting the rules and stealing their business without having to respect the costly regulations imposed on taxis.

Salt was rubbed into their wounds last week when a government plan to impose a 15 minute delay before VTCs could pick up their passengers, was thrown out by the Council of State.

The taxi unions are calling for VTCs to be limited by a 30-minute delay and a minimum fare of 60 euros -- which would effectively close them out of themarket for trips within central Paris.

Cabbies say they will contiue to protest until the government puts a block on handing out new licenses to VTCs.

After holding a strike on Monday that brought the peripherique to a standstill as well as the main roads from Paris two airports, taxi drivers continued to protest on Tuesday.

A 100 drivers blockaded Place de La Concorde before moving on to Gare du Lyon. According to RMC radio 64 drivers were arrested by police overnight when officers moved in to break up the blockade. THey were later released without charge.